John S. Kurtz

KURTZ, WEYER, KAUFMAN, PECK, GELSKI, KURKA

Posted By: Cathy Labath (email)
Date: 12/30/2005 at 13:12:20

History of Jefferson County, Iowa. Charles J. Fulton. 2 vols. Chicago: S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1912.

p. 355-357

John S. Kurtz is one of the highly successful farmers and stockmen of Black Hawk township, where he is engaged in the operation of the farm upon which he was born. His birth occurred in April, 1872, his parents being John and Caroline (Weyer) Kurtz, the father a native of Germany and the mother of Mississippi. In his early childhood John Kurtz emigrated to the United States with his parents, who located in Jefferson county. Here he finished his schooling and assisted his father on the farm until he attained his majority when he went to Burlington and took a position on the railroad. He continued to follow this occupation in various capacities during the succeeding nine years. Having always been trained to appreciate the value of economy, he was prudent in his habits of living and his expenditures and during that time saved enough to buy a quarter section of land at Keota. When he gave up railroading he sold this and invested the returns in a tract of raw land in Jefferson county. He most energetically applied himself to clearing and placing under cultivation his newly acquired land with gratifying results. As his means permitted he extended the boundaries of his farm until at one time he owned four hundred acres of land and continued to devote his activities to the further improvement of his holdings until his death in 1890. The mother passed away in 1887.

Until he was fifteen years of age John S. Kurtz was reared under the parental roof and attended the district schools in the vicinity. Following the death of his mother he made his home with an elder brother, until such time as he was able to make his own way in the world, when he applied himself to the cultivation of a tract of sixty acres of land north of the old home, that had been left to him by his father. Owing to the intelligent and practical direction of his energies his undertaking proved so successful that he was later able to add another forty acres to his holdings. When he had operated his farm for about seven years he sold it and bought the old homestead, and here he has ever since resided. This place consists of one hundred and twenty acres of fertile land all under high cultivation. During the period of his ownership, Mr. Kurtz has effected such improvements as he has been able to afford from his earnings, striving to keep abreast with the progressive spirit of modern methods in his vocation. In connection with the tilling of his fields, that are almost entirely devoted to cereals, he makes a specialty of stock-raising. He annually prepares for the market from fifty to sixty hogs and keeps twenty head of cattle and about thirteen horses.

In January, 1897, Mr. Kurtz was united in marriage to Miss Bertha Kaufman, a daughter of Jacob Kaufman. She was a native of Germany, where her parents spent their entire lives, the mother passing away during her childhood. To Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz were born three children: Angeline, who is thirteen; Gerald, a lad of twelve; and Myron, who is nine years of age. After an illness of three days the wife and mother was called to her final rest, January 18, 1903. On January 27, 1904, Mr. Kurtz married Mrs. Clara Gelski Peck, a daughter of Stanislaus and Martha (Kurka) Gelski. The father was born on the Atlantic ocean, a son of Polish emigrants, while the mother, whose birth occurred in the United States, is also of Polish extraction. In the early '60s Mr. Gelski came with his parents to Jefferson county, where they engaged in farming. After finishing his schooling he worked out until he had sufficient means to buy some land in Walnut township that he improved and operated until 1909. He then disposed of his farm and removed to Missouri, where he continues to follows agricultural pursuits. Of Mr. Kurtz's second marriage there have been born three children: Veronica, seven years of age; Johnnie, who is six, and Martha, who has passed the first anniversary of her birth. Mrs. Kurtz has a son by a former marriage, Thomas Peck, who was born August 4, 1900, and now makes his home with his mother.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz are communicants of the Roman Catholic church and he votes the democratic ticket. He takes an interest in the township political activities and is now serving as a township trustee. In the promotion of the agricultural development of this section, Mr. Kurtz is contributing his full quota as is attested by the well kept and attractive appearance of his property.